ROY WOOD JR. is a comedian, an Emmy-nominated documentary producer, a correspondent on Comedy Central’s Emmy-nominated The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, and host of Comedy Central’s award-winning podcast, The Daily Show: Beyond the Scenes. Spring of 2023, Wood guest hosted The Daily Show and headlined the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Wood co-starred alongside Jon Hamm in Paramount Pictures' long-awaited Fletch remake, Confess, Fletch and has guest appearances in ‘Only Murders in the Building’, ‘Better Call Saul’, ‘The Last O.G.’ & ‘Space Force.’

He has appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyer, Conan, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He also performed on numerous USO Tours for our Troops stationed everywhere from Guam to Iraq to the Philippines.

At the height of the pandemic, Roy raised money for the displaced staff of comedy clubs through tipyourwaitstaff.com and Laugh Aid.

On this episode of It Matters with Michael Starr Hopkins, Roy shares his unique perspective on politics and comedy, shaped by his upbringing in Alabama and his father's influence as a journalist. He discusses the impact of racism, inequality, and the fight for justice in Birmingham, as well as his transition into social commentary in comedy. The conversation delves into the role of race, politics, and the media in shaping public opinion and voter behavior. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including voter rationalization, media consumption, political awareness, the changing landscape of politics, and the dynamics of legacy media. Roy Wood Jr. shares insights on the role of young voters, and the challenges of disinformation.

Takeaways

Roy Wood Jr.'s upbringing in Alabama and his father's role as a journalist significantly influenced his perspective on politics and social issues.

The impact of racism, inequality, and the fight for justice in Birmingham shaped Roy Wood Jr.'s sense of optimism and informed his social commentary in comedy.

The role of race, politics, and the media in shaping public opinion and voter behavior is a complex and influential factor in contemporary society

Understanding voter rationalization and the complexities of voting against self-interest.

The impact of new media on political awareness and the challenges of disinformation.

The role of young voters and the future of the country.

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